Masking-tape applicator



Sept. 12, 1961 T. GJTHOMPSON MASKING-TAPE APPLICATOR Filed Nov. 3, 1959 INVEN TOR. filo/ms 6. 7i/oMP5o/v BY A r roe/457.5

2,999,609 MASKlNG-TAPE APPLICATOR Thomas G. Thompson, Shanango Township, Mercer County, Pa. (RD. 2, West Middlesex, Pa.) Filed Nov. 3, '1959, Ser. No. 850,567 2 Claims. (Cl. 216-29) This invention is for a device for applying masking tape to certain parts of an automobile body or the like, as for instance the chrome molding, preparatory to painting the remaining part of the automobile.

The general object of my present invention is to provide such a device that is of simple structure and that can be used in a convenient and efficient manner.

A more specific object is to provide such a device with an improved guide means for facilitating application of the masking tape in an exact manner along the edge of the chrome finish or the like.

Another specific object is to provide such a device in which the tape-guiding means includes a rotatable roller that is located in tracking alignment with the tape-holder and that is provided with means for compensating for any unevenness in the surface to which the masking tape is applied and that will ensure against cutting of the tape as it is received in guiding engagement therewith.

Another specific object is to provide such a device with efiicient handle means including a handle member arranged coaxially with respect to the rear tape-guiding roller.

Another specific object is to provide such a device with means for regulating the degree of freedom of rotatability of the tape-holder and the rear tape-guiding roller.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my present device;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the backing or supporting plate 1 is here again to be of substantially right-angle triangular form and is made of metal or any other rigid material. The left and right handles 2 and 3 extend from the back of the plate 1 and are adapted to be grasped by the two hands of the operator. Upon the opposite side of the plate 1 there is mounted the masking-tape holder 4 that is rotatable upon the bolt 5 that extends through the plate 1, the tape being indicated by reference letter T. There are provided the inner washer 6 between the tape-holder and the end plate 1, and the outer washer 7 between the tapeholder and the head of the screw bolt 5. The threaded end of the bolt 5 has the adjusting nut 8 and the lock nut 9 for varying and setting the degree of rotata-bility of the tape-holder upon the bolt 5.

Upon the same side of the plate 1 as the tape-holder there is the rotatable roller 10 that is co-axially mounted upon the fixed bolt 3a that is threaded into the right handle member 3. The axes of the tape-holder 4 and the roller 10 are parallel to each other; and the roller 10 is arranged to track the path of the holder 4 so that the tape will be received from the tape-holder in tangential engagement beneath the roller 10.

The rear roller 10 has a bushing 11 to serve as a bearing for the same upon the fixed bolt 3a and has the outer disk 12 and the inner disk 13, with the Washer 14 between the disk 12 and the enlarged end of the bolt 3a,

Patented Sept. 12, 1961 'ice 2 and with the washer 15 between the disk 13 and the adjusting nut 16. The lock washer 17 is provided upon the bolt 3a and is arranged between the lock nut16a and the part 21a. The bolt or axle 3a extends through the plate 1 and is threaded into the right handle 3.

The inner core of the roller 10 consists of hard rubber 18 with a center hole to accommodate the bushing 11; and the outer circumferential portion of the roller 10 consists of sponge rubber 19 that is aflixed to the core of hard rubber 18 which in turn is aflixed to the bushing 11 so as to perform as a unitary roller.

The disk 12 is of the same diameter as the sponge rubf ber body 19; and both of the disks 12 and 13 have their edges beveled outwardly upon the inner or facing sides thereof so as to prevent cutting of the tape as it is engaged beneath the roller 10 and also so as to facilitate the guiding of the tape in the proper path with respect to the roller 10. p 1

I have provided also a front guide shoe 20 in the form of a rigid rod that has its one end extended through the plate 1 and threaded into the left handle 2 and that is bent downwardly and has a rearwardly extending runner portion 20a in line with the rear guide roller 10; that is, the outer surface of the runner portion 20a is in line with the edge of the outer disk 12 0f the roller 10.

A tape cutter 21 of wedge or pointed form is fixedly mounted upon the plate 1 so as to be capable of cutting the tape by turning the device clockwise against the tape in taut condition upon completion of the masking operation. The cutter 21 is so positioned as not to extend beyond the roller 10, thereby precluding the danger of the cutter scratching the surface of the automobile body during the cutting operation. The cutter 2.1 may be mounted upon the plate 1 in any suitable manner; in the present illustration this cutter is shown as the bent end portion of a metallic strip 21a that is clamped against the rear face of the plate 1 by the lock washer 17 and its lock washer 16a.

In assemblying the parts of this device, the tape-holder 4 will be so mounted as to be capable of free rotating movement but without danger of over-running; such proper adjustment being accomplished by means of the adjusting nut and locking nut above referred to. And the roll of tape Will be placed upon its holder in such manner as to preclude any wobbling of the tape as it is fed to the rear roller guide 10. Likewise, by means of the adjusting and locking nuts for the guide roller 10, as above described, it will be set so as to be capable of sufliciently free rotatable movement but without danger of wobbling.

With the parts installed in the manner above described, the free end of the masking tape will be held beneath the rear guide roller 10 by the fore-finger of the operators right hand so as to position the sticky under-side of the tape towards the chrome; then, by positioning the outer guide disk 12 of the roller 10 between the molding and the body of the automobile and by placing the guide shoe 2!) on the edge of the molding of the automobile and moving the device towards the left across the top of the molding, light pressure upon the roller 10 will cause the tape to adhere to the chrome in an even manner as the device is moved therealong. By virtue of the sponge rubber 19 of the guide roller 10, it can assume the particular contour of the molding at any point therealong, whatever its form, and thus the tape can be applied thereto in a smooth manner along the entire extent thereof. In case of sharp curves in the molding, the guide shoe 20 can be raised and the operator can direct the roller 10 by sight until such curved portion has been properly taped, whereupon the former position of the guide shoe 20 may be resumed. Then,

upon completion of the masking operation, the tape can be conveniently cut by turning the device in a clockwise direction so as to cause the tape in taut condition to engage the point of the cutter21 and to be shearedby the wedge-like edge of theicutter. By having the disk 12 of the same diameter as that of the sponge rubber 19, it will not interfere with the applicationgof the tape to the chrome; andthe sponge rubber will be compressed sufiiciently to permit the edge of the disk 12 to track between the chrome and the body ofthe automobile as well as to guide the outer edge of the tape exactly Where it is needed. The inner disk 13 is of sufliciently greater diameter than that of the sponge rubber 19 to guide the tape and to keep it in its proper path with respect to the sponge rubber 19, as do also the beveled edges of the disks 12 and 13.

Thus, with this comparatively simple form of device, it is possible to apply masking tape to the edge of the chrome molding of an automobile so as to protect the chrome finish during the painting of the automobile. This device can be used in connection with the Windshields, rear windows, bumpers and other parts of an automobile; and, with this device, all such masking operations can be performed with little skill and in an expeditious manner. Thus the use of this device means a saving in time and labor as well as material with the resulting saving in cost. While this device is of comparatively simple form, it is capable of withstanding hard usage and is calculated to render efiicient and economical service over a long period of time. Other practical advantages resulting from the use of this device will no doubt readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. A masking-tape applicator comprising a single supporting plate, a masking-tape holder rotatably mounted upon one side of said plate, a front guide member extending from said one side of said plate and below said tape-holder, said front guide member being forward of the path of the tape and being free of engagement therewith, a handle extending from the other side of said plate in the region of said front guide member so as to effect alignment of said front guide member in the desired path for the masking-tape, a rear guide member mounted upon said one side of said plate and rearward of said tape-holder and said front guide member so as to maintain alignment of the masking-tape in the path determined by said front guide member, the path of the tape being directly from the tape holder to the rear guide member, and a handle extending from said other side of, said plate in the region of said rear guide member so as to guide the masking-tape along the determined path and to eifect pressure of said rear guide member upon the masking-tape as it is applied to the work.

2. The same structure as recited in claim 1 hereof and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,106 Francis Mar. 15, 1910 1,739,296 Du Pont Dec. 20, 1929 1,901,908 Hoyos Mar. 21, '1933 2,368,262 Oftedahl et a1 Ian. 30, 1945 2,532,597 Bobrov et a1. Dec. 5, 1950 2,683,547 Fischer July 13, 1954 2,932,421 Schiefer Apr. 12, 1960 

